Apparatus for taking and reproducing animated scenes and sounds.



No. 656,762. Patented Aug. 28, I900.- A. BARON.

APPARATUS FOR TAKING AND REPRODUCING ANIMATED SCENES AND SOUNDS.

{Application filed Oct. 31, 1898.) (No Model.) 3 Sheats-$heet l.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR t BY @n MI/a 114W);

ATTORNEYS A No. 656,762. Patented Aug. 28, I900.

v A. BARON.

APPARATUS FDR TAKING AND REPRDDUCING ANIMATED SCENES AND SOUNDS.

(Application filed Oct. 31, 1898.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

@wumm T W 6% mm. in? @WLW a No. 656,762. Patented Aug. 28, I900.

-A. BARON.

APPARATUS FOR TAKING AND REPRDDUGING ANIMATED SCENES AND SOUNDS.

(Application filed Oct. 31, 1898.)

(No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

i NITED STATES PATEN ric.

APPARATUS- FoR TAKING AND REPRODUCING ANIMATED SCENES AND SOUNDS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 656,762, dated August28, 1900. Application filed October 31, 1398. Serial No. 695,024. (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whomiz'; may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUsTE BARON, photographer, a citizen of the FrenchRepublic, residing at 10 Rue de lAlma, in the city of Asnieres, Seine,France, have invented Improved Apparatus for Taking and ReproducingAnimated Scenes and Sounds, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description. I

This invention relates to an apparatus for recording animated scenes andtheir accompanying sounds simultaneously and for reproducing the samesimultaneously. The apparatus consists of two distinct parts which areso combined as to mutually contribute to the obtainment of theabove-mentioned result. One part consists of a photographic apparatusfor taking a series of photographs of the same moving subject at veryrapid intervals, while the other part consists of a phonograph forrecording the sounds accompanying the motions of the subject during theoperation of the photographic apparatus. The phonographic apparatus isconnected to the photographic apparatus by an electrical apparatus whosemovement is controlled by the driving-wheel of said photographicapparatus in such manner as to cause the two appara-,

tuses to move together at the same speed, and during the reproduction byprojection of the subject photographed the movements will be representedsynchronously with the accompanying sounds, so that the spectators willboth see the scenes and "hear the sounds reproduced exactly as inreality. An apparatus in which my invention is embodied is shown by wayof example in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a frontelevation of both the phonographic and photographic apparatuses, thesetwo apparatuses being-electrically connected by wires. Fig. 2 is a planview of the motor of the phonograph. Th is view likewise shows thecircuits and the commutator for controlling the motor. Fig. 3 is anenlarged detail sectional elevation of the phonograph, and Fig. i is adetail view of the commutator.

The photographic apparatus or camera, by which I mean to also include apicture-pro jector, is mounted upon an iron frame, which supports a woodcasin g inclosing the whole of the mechanism and varying in dimensionsaccording 'to the size of the photographs.

As shown in Fig. 1, N is a removable magazin'e'in which is contained thespool of film, whether sensitized or covered with positive pictures,according as the apparatus is used for taking or projecting the scenes.The magazine has a slide N, which is drawn out when the magazine hasbeen mounted on the apparatus. The film-spool turns freely upon aspindle Nflwhich is mounted in the sides of the magazine N.

, The fly-wheel A H, Fig. 1, which is rotated by hand or by anindependent motor, drives the oamera'or kinetoscope.

The secondpart of the apparatus consists of a phonograph whose movementis synchronized or harmonized with that of the photographic apparatus bythe following arrangement of mechanism: a, Fig. 1, indicates a group ofbattery-cells for the supply of the current by means of wire Z) to acommutator consisting of a copper ring 0, Fig. 4, screwed on the side ofthe casing of the photographic apparatus, Fig. 1. To this ring 0, Fig.1, is fixed an ebonite sleeve d, containing a cylinder c, also ofebonite, (see Fig. 2,) which carries a copper ring f, against whichconstantly bears the contact g, connected to bindingscrew h, Fig. 2,which traverses sleeve 01. The ring f has an extension longitudinal ofthe ebonite cylinder e, which latter is fast on the spindle t, whichpasses through it and partakes of the rotary motion imparted to pinion jby the teeth on driving-wheel M, Fig. 4, of the photographic apparatus.During this movement the extension on ring f comes successively infrictional contact with the contacts connected to the sockets ofterminals h 7:; Z by flexible strips, so that the current which isconstantly supplied at terminal 9 to ring f is distributed successivelyto the electromagnets m n 0, Fig. 2, in correspondence with the speedimparted to the driving-wheel M. The electromagnets m n 0, Figs. 2 and3, are met erably six in number and are placed in pairs around thecircumference of an armature p, bearing studs q, (eight in number,)which are sucoessively'attractcd by the poles r of the electromagnets.The current supplied by the commutator passes alternately by the Wires 3t u to the electromagnets m n 0, which in turn attract the studs ofarmature 1), and by means of springs a; transmit the circular motionthus obtained to the fly-wheel w,mounted on shaft The object of thesprings '11 is to counteract the jerks which may be produced by thesuccessive attractions of armature p. The current on its exit from theelectromag nets is returned to the battery by the returnwire 3 (See Fig.1.)

The entire electric mechanism hereinbefore described is contained withinthe phonographcasing .2, Fig. 3. The shaft 50 projects up through thetop of said casing and upon its upper end is keyed a bevel-toothed wheela, which gears with two other similar wheels I) and c, of which wheel I)imparts rotary motion to the phonographic cylinder e, while the wheel 0imparts a forward movement to the diaphragm -carrier f. The wheel I) isfast on the axis on which is mounted the sleeve which carries thephonographic cylinder e, the said wheel and its shaft being maderemovable to permit of inserting andchanging the phonographic cylinders.A small pivoted latch f, engaging in a notch in a ring g, formed onwheel Z), serves to insure the correct register of the cylinders at themoment of starting the apparatus. he wheel 0' is fast on a leading screwh, with which engages a nut j, which is connected by means of a bar tothe diaphragm-carrierf, the outer end of said screw 71, being supportedin a bracket Fig. 1, so that when screw 7t commences to be rotated bywheel c it forces the nut j to advance, thus carrying with it thediaphragm-carrierf. At Z is shown the vibratiug diaphragm carrying itsstylus,and m, Fig. 3, is the sound-tube connected to the horn o toamplify the sounds emitted by the diaphragm and project them toward theaudience. hen an operation is finished and it is desired to return tothe starting-point, it is simply necessary to rock the diaphragm-carrierabout its guiding-axis n, Fig. 3, so as to disengage nutj from screw 7tand then slide the whole backward upon the guide or axis a.

From the foregoing description the action of the apparatus in the twocases of taking and projecting views will be easily understood. Oncommencing to turn the drivingwheel M the commutator causes the currentto pass successively to the electromagnets, the phonographic cylinder isrotated at a speed which is absolutely synchronous or harmonious withthat of fly-wheel A H, and the tube or horn being turned toward thescene to be photographed the phonographic cylinder records the soundsemitted at same time that the cinematograph records the correspondingmovements. For projecting the views the positive film, produced in theordinary way from the negative film previously obtained, is then placedin the apparatus, the first picture occupying the same position as thefirst negative, and the phonographic cylinder replaced in its supportand the diaphragm-carrier returned to the starting position. It is nowonly necessary to turn the fly-wheel A H in order to impart to bothapparatuses an absolutely-synchronous movement, and thus obtain asimultaneous reproduction of the movements and sounds previouslyrecorded.

It is to be understood that the forms, dimensions, details, andmaterials employed in the construction of'the apparatus may be variedwithout in any way changing the principle of the invention and that thewort camera is intended to include also a projector or kinetoscope.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to securebyLetters Patent, 1s

In an apparatus for recording or exhibiting simultaneously-occurringvisible and audible effects, the combination of aphonograph withelectrical means for driving the same,a kinetographic camera, acurrent-distributing commutator operated by the kinetographic cameraapparatus and circuit connections intervening between thecurrent-distributing commutator and the electrical means for driving thephonograph so as to effect the operation of the phonograph insynchronism with the kinetographic camera.

The foregoing specification of my improved apparatus for taking andreproducing animated scenes and sounds signed by me this 17th day ofOctober, 1898.

AUGUSTE BARON.

/Vitnesses:

J. S. ABERCROMBIE, MAURICE HENRI PIGNET.

